THR, A&E Host Creepy 'Bates Motel' Comic-Con Party

Vera Farmiga, fresh off her Emmy nomination, and co-stars Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot and Olivia Cooke mingled with the stars of "Breaking Bad" and "Walking Dead" at San Diego's Gang Kitchen on Saturday.

Creepy taxidermy animals, a Bates Motel bedroom photo booth and a green-glowing, faux-marijuana room were just a few of the amenities welcoming guests to the Bates Motel Comic-Con party Saturday night.

The Hollywood Reporter and A&E's lively fete at the Gang Kitchen on Sixth Avenue in San Diego made the stars of the drama about the early years of Psycho's main character, Norman Bates, feel right at home.

The cast had plenty to celebrate during Comic-Con weekend -- just two days earlier, Vera Farmiga had received her first Emmy nomination for her work as Norma, the intense, off-kilter mother of Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore).

"It's absolutely brilliant and entirely deserved," said her onscreen son Highmore of Farmiga's nomination. "She's absolutely fantastic on the show."

At the packed evening party, which transformed the popular Asian fusion restaurant into a creepy version of the show's infamous motel, Highmore and Farmiga spent time upstairs chatting with their fellow cast members, Max Thieriot, Olivia Cooke, Nestor Carbonell and Mike Vogel.

Thieriot, who plays Norman's older brother, had his very first experience on a Comic-Con panel earlier in the day during the Bates Motel presentation.

"It was a lot of fun. It kind of makes you remember why you do this, and it's really rejuvenating to see other people's excitement for something you've worked this hard on," he told THR.

Also in attendance were Bates Motel co-showrunnersCarlton Cuseand Kerry Ehrin, A&E general manager David McKillop and stars of several other shows and films who were in town for the annual comic and geek convention. Homeland actors Navid Negahban and DiegoKlattenhoff -- who also stars in upcoming new show The Blacklist -- and Walking Dead star Norman Reedus mingled among the TV and film executives who were enjoying their final night at the four-day convention.

Catching Fire's Jena Malone, who plays a tribute in the upcoming Lionsgate sequel, spent some quality time on the dance floor upstairs, while David Arquette posed with Bai Ling on the red carpet. Tim Daly and his son, Sam Daly, made it a father-son night, while Breaking Bad stars Aaron Paul, Bob Odenkirkand Anna Gunn, Craig Ferguson, Newsroom's Joel Johnstone and director Kevin Tancharoen also dropped by.

Partygoers were treated to several themed rooms in the event space, including a dark "marijuana room," with faux-plants growing from the floor and hanging from the ceiling. To top off the space, (pot-free) brownies were available for attendees who may have been craving something sweet.

Highmore, who had been to Comic-Con on one other occasion, revealed that he'd snuck onto the convention floor in costume this year to experience a little of the madness.

The actor said this year was especially sweet because of the show's success in season one and fans' anticipation for the upcoming season.

"I was here a few years ago when we were promoting something that hadn't yet come out, so it's fun to be here when people have seen the show, and have responded nicely to us," he said.